Loose forward Warren Whiteley has been named as Lions captain for next year’s Super Rugby competition, reports indicate.

Sport24

Fellow loose forward, Derick Minnie, who captained the Golden Lions during the recent Currie Cup, will be the vice-captain.

Whiteley, 26, captained the Lions when they won the Vodacom Cup earlier this year, and also in their Super Rugby promotion-relegation against the Kings when they forced their way back into Super Rugby.

However, a finger operation ruled him out of the Currie Cup competition.

The Lions will play three warm-up games early next year before the start of the Super Rugby competition

On Friday, January 24, they take on the Leopards at Ellis Park. Both an ‘A’ and ‘B’ outfit will play in two trial games on the day.

They will then tackle the Kings in Port Elizabeth on February 1, before hosting the Sharks at Ellis Park on February 7.

They start their Super Rugby campaign against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on February 15.